Crisis club Blyth Spartans set for takeover

By Mark Carruthers

Troubled Northern Premier League club Blyth Spartans are set for a takeover after a deal was agreed with a group fronted by a local businessman.

The news was officially confirmed on Thursday afternoon as current owner Irfan Liaquat revealed he had signed a sales purchase agreement that will hand control of the Croft Park club over to a Community Interest Company that consists of a number of businessmen from the local area.

The agreement brings an end to Liaquat’s six-month ownership just two weeks after he announced he had put the club up for sale. The Tyneside-based businessman claimed he has received ‘very attractive proposals’ from parties in South East Asia, the United Arab Emirates and United States during the last fortnight – but described the decision to pass the club on to a local consortium as ‘a very simple one’.

Part of the statement read: “When I arrived at Blyth Spartans, I said I would always do what is best for the community, and what is best for the football Club. Hence, my decision to hand the club over to the newly formed CIC was a very simple one.

“The CIC and its members at the helm are a collective that do not need any colourful introductions. You have a mixture of proven business knowledge, community driven individuals, fan engagement, and financial stability which will all play a big part to ensure the ongoing success and stability of the football club. 

“These are all local Blyth people behind the takeover which was a big factor in my decision. There is power in unity, and there is power in numbers… Simple!”

Liaquat’s reign as Spartans owner officially got underway in April after a deal that was initially announced two months earlier was finally ratified. However, within 24 hours of the announcement, Spartans suffered only the second relegation in their history as a heavy home defeat against Brackley Town saw them slide out of the National League North.

The appointment of former Newcastle United and Aston Villa winger Nolberto Solano was met with surprise and the Peruvian’s reign would last just six games after a poor summer of recruitment and a dismal pre-season campaign spilled into the first month of the Northern Premier League season.

After failing to win any league games during August, Solano departed and was replaced by former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper David Stockdale, who took charge on an interim basis before being handed a permanent role just weeks later.

Despite claiming wins over the likes of Stockton Town and Workington, Spartans remain at the bottom of the Premier Division table and have been without a fixture over the last fortnight after a number of departures meant the club failed to comply with safety regulations to host competitive fixtures at their Croft Park home.

There were genuine concerns over the long-term future of the club with local MP Ian Lavery and the Football Supporters Association all backing efforts to give supporters a voice in helping Spartans move on from a troubled period.

An FSA spokesman said: “We are assisting them with the establishment of a supporters trust, to bring a central democratic voice which all Spartans supporters can get behind. The club needs a more transparent and sustainable approach from its new ownership, and we will work with all stakeholders to ensure the best outcome possible for Spartans fans and the wider community, with the supporters playing a key role in that process.”

That process will take a major step forward on Friday and one of the first tasks for the new ownership group will be to appoint a new manager after the outgoing owner confirmed Stockdale had departed the club and he was followed by sporting director Steve Howard.